Parties agree to suspend campaigning on Fridays<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): All political parties and city authorities agreed
\nhere on Wednesday to suspend all campaign activities on Fridays
\nduring the May 19 to June 4 election campaign period.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with local authorities,
\nthe Independence Vanguard Party's (IPKI) Bogor chairman, Herman,
\nsaid the decision was jointly made by executives of 43 parties
\ncontesting in the area to honor local Muslims, who perform their
\nweekly prayers on Friday afternoons.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that Muslims are the majority in the Bogor
\nmayoralty, and they hold mass prayers every Friday at the
\nmosques. Therefore, we agree to name May 21, May 28 and June 4 as
\ncampaign-free days,\" said Herman, who earlier read the same joint
\nstatement to local authorities.<\/p>\n
Forty-eight parties are contesting the June 7 elections.<\/p>\n
Herman did not reveal the status of the other five contesting
\nparties.<\/p>\n
According to him, executives of the 43 parties also pledged to
\nensure security in the campaign period and avoid violence.<\/p>\n
\"We vow not to tear down the pictures of any contesting
\nparties. We also agree to respect the campaigning days of other
\nparties,\" he added.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Bogor Mayor R. Iswara Natanegara told political
\nparty representatives to be wary of the potential for conflict in
\nthe town.<\/p>\n
\"Bogor, which is geographically close to the capital Jakarta,
\nhas a high possibility for conflict, just like other cities. So,
\nit would be unwise to ignore this fact and neglect to take
\nprecautions,\" Iswara said.<\/p>\n
He said a major factor that could lead to violence in Bogor is
\nthe presence of \"political hoodlums and provocateurs\", which are
\nsaid to have sparked riots in various areas across the country
\nrecently.<\/p>\n
\"One of their main missions is to foil the general election,\"
\nIswara said.<\/p>\n
He said the presence of political provocateurs \"should be
\nstopped as soon as possible, not only by the security officers
\nbut also by executives of the political parties as well as the
\nentire community\". (24\/bsr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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